Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- An expert witness who evaluates police practices took the stand today on the behalf of a Narragansett tribal member who accuses a state trooper of violating his civil rights during a 2003 raid on a tribal smoke shop.

Reginald Allard, of the company called the 13th Juror, said in his assessment that Trooper Kenneth Jones applied unreasonable and unnecessary force because Adam Jennings was under control when his ankle was twisted and broken.

Allard based his conclusions on viewing state police video of the raid -- which he considers a witness.

Allard said the video shows another state police officer, Sgt. Wilfred K. Hill, after Jennings has been taken to the ground, getting up, putting on his hat and walking away. Allard said an officer would not do that if there were a safety concern. About 10 seconds later, Allard said, the video shows Jennings yelling out.

On cross-examination, Assistant District Attorney Partington got Allard to acknowledge that the fact that it took five troopers to get Jennings to comply indicates that someone was resisting arrest.

Later, state police Lt. Darren Delaney, an instructor at state police training academy, testified that the ankle-turn control technique that jones used was appropriate, given level of resistance Jennings was showing -- tucking his hands into his body and kicking at officers.

Just because Jennings' ankle was broken in the confrontation does not mean Jones used the technique incorrectly, Delaney said.

The technique is taught at the training academy, Delaney said, where Jones went in 1997.

The testimony came in the third day of the re-trial of the civil suit brought by Jennings against Jones.

Yesterday, an orthopedic surgeon told jurors that Jennings suffered some permanent loss of motion from the injury.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

 Tags  Trooper Kenneth Jones

Comments

Greg said:

Today I made and appearance downtown
I am an expert witness, because I say I am
And I said, 'Gentleman....and I use that word loosely...
I will testify for you
I'm a gun for hire, I'm a saint, I'm a liar
Because there are no facts, no truth, just data to be manipulated
I can get you any result you like....what's it worth to ya?
Because there is no wrong, there is no right
And I sleep very well at night

Link | July 24, 2008 11:48 AM
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Mark said:

Does it really make a difference, if the state police lose again the judge will overrule it until they get a decision in favor of the state police. Its such a joke.

Link | July 24, 2008 3:18 PM
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